11DAYS 5TH TO15THJULY2021 - COOLUM TOURS & TRAVEL

Journey into the South West Queensland Outback and meet
              the locals that call this place home
Be mesmerised by the seamlessly endless landscapes. Uncover strong pioneering
 history, fossil rich lands and the industrious communities that call this remarkable
                                      place home!
                   11 days          5   th
                                          to 15 July 2021
                                                   th

                           Twin / Double $3975.00 p/p
                                     Single $4665.00
                                    Deposit $200.00

DAY 1:( L, D) COOLUM > BRISBANE > ROMA                                Monday 5th July 2021
Eager to be back on the road again we farewell the Sunshine Coast travelling south to
Brisbane then heading north-west along the Warrego Highway. After stopping for morning
tea along the way we continue via Queensland’s Garden City, Toowoomba nestled on top of
The Great Dividing Range. Continuing along the Adventure Way to we pass through Dalby,
Chinchilla, and Miles, arriving in Roma, the heart of beef country late afternoon with time to
check-in and refresh before dinner.

                                                     Stay 2 nights in Roma. (Roma Explorers Inn)

DAY 2: ROMA (B,L,D)                                                    Tuesday 6th July 2021
Feel the energy and excitement of a real cattle auction at Australia’s biggest cattle selling
facility, Roma Saleyards. This is where it all happens. On any given day up to 7,000 head of
cattle are brought for sale. We will be joined by a retired grazier for an insiders view of the
saleyards and entry to the new multi-media Interpretive Centre. We will then share a few
hours with a local guide from Boobook Ecotours for an insight into the colourful history and
characters of Roma. Hear how the town began and the industries it supports; discover
Heroes Avenue, the Biggest Bottle Tree and the Roma Bush Gardens. After lunch we will
experience authentic country hospitality at Mount Hope, a 34,000 acre working cattle
station. A family host will board our coach at the station entrance for a guided tour of this
Droughtmaster cattle property. Enjoy sunset nibbles and drinks followed by a delicious two-
course camp oven dinner under the stars.

DAY 3: (B,L,D) ROMA > CHARLEVILLE                                  Wednesday 7th July 2021
After a scrumptious breakfast we travel further west towards Charleville arriving mid-
morning. We head into downtown Charleville and arrive at the famous Hotel Corones – built
in stages, the hotel was completed in 1929 during Charleville’s wool industry boom. We join
a guided one-hour tour with exclusive access to normally restricted areas of the hotel and
hear the rags to riches story of local character Harry Corones, followed by lunch in the hotel
dining room. We have time for a visit the Historic House Museum and discover treasured
items dating back to the 1800s before travelling to the RFDS Charleville Visitor Centre and
learn the rich history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. After checking in to our Motel we
visit the Cosmos Centre for the Big Sky Twilight Tour. See an amazing night sky brought into
focus with the help of powerful Meade telescopes and listen to captivating stories from their
experienced sky guide.
                                                 Stay 2 nights in Charleville (Charleville Motel )

DAY 4: (B, D) CHARLEVILLE                                             Thursday 8th July 2021
Today we tour one of the largest classrooms in the world at Charleville School of Distance
Education. View the facilities and watch a class delivered in real time between one of the
dedicated teaches and ‘on-air-students.’ An experienced guide will board our coach at
the Cosmos Centre for a tour of the USAAF Top Secret sites. We will find out why Charleville
was selected for this top secret site in WWII, visiting intriguing historical sites and learn about
the highly classified computerised bomb aimer. Next is the Bilby Experience and hear first-
hand what the Save the Bilby Fund is doing to protect this environmental engineering marvel.
Tour the nocturnal house where you will meet these beautiful bilbies.

DAY 5: (B,L,D) CHARLEVILLE > QUILPIE                                   Friday 9th July 2021
Today you will visit one of the smallest towns in Australia to retain its own postcode. We will
drop into Cooladdi - taking its name from an Aboriginal term for ‘black duck’, was once home
to 270 residents. On arrival in Quilpie we make our first stop at the Visitor Information
Centre, Museum and Gallery where their local guide will board our coach for a town tour.
Discover the history and unique landscapes of Quilpie town, Baldy Top Lookout, St Finbarrs’
Opal Altar and Quilpie Airport mini museum. Our tour includes lunch at the Quilpie Heritage
Inn (aka The Brick) which has been carefully restored to its original splendour. This afternoon
we join celebrated artist Lyn Barnes at her boutique art gallery for sunset, wine and
cheese. View her latest work and discover her unique creative connection to the
Outback. Tonight, enjoy a BBQ dinner Country style
                                                          Overnight Quilpie (Quilpie Motor Inn)

DAY 6: (B,L,D) QUILPIE > ERONAMGA                                   Saturday 10th July 2021
This morning, we will take a drive out to Moble Homestead, home of the Rutledge family,
proud wool producers and keen environmentalists and join them on a tour of their property
which has remained in the family for five generations. Returning to the homestead for a tour
of the beautiful country gardens we will then enjoy a delicious two-course lunch in this
delightful garden setting overlooking their tranquil waterhole. Continue our journey we
travel to Eromanga and visit the Natural History Museum where their experienced guide will
take us on a one-hour tour of the workshop laboratory and collection centre. You’ll meet
titanosaur sauropods Cooper and George, the largest dinosaurs to have ever been found in
Australia. The guides will demonstrate how to prepare fossilised bone and you’ll see the
incredible Eulo megafauna fossils. Tonight, enjoy a themed dinner at the Eromanga Natural
History Museum.

                           Overnight Eromanga ( Cooper’s Country Lodge + Eromanga Motel)

DAY 7: (B,L,D) EROMANGA > THARGOMINDAH                               Sunday 11th July 2021
Driving along the Cooper Developmental Road as it skirts the edge of Queensland’s Southern
Outback, we then take the turnoff for the historic Noccundra Hotel for morning tea. Look
closely at the sandstone walls of this 1882 construction. The sandstone was quarried in New
South Wales and transported by Camel Train to its present location. You have to ponder the
logistics of this! Continuing on to Thargomindah (on the banks of the Bulloo River) we will
arrive in time for lunch. It was the first town in Australia, and third in the world to produce
hydro-electric power for street lighting. A ‘smart cookie’ came up with the idea to use the
water pressure from the Artesian Basin. After an early check-in at our motel we join a local
guide for a tour and demonstration of the Artesian Hydro Power Plant - we then then step
out on the viewing deck for a spectacular outback sunset (with nibbles & drinks). Arriving
back at our motel we continue the outdoor experience with a Slow Cook and Damper
Dinner under the stars.

                                                       Overnight Thargomindah ( Oasis Motel)

DAY 8: (B,L,D) THARGOMINDAH > CUNNAMULLA                            Monday 12th July 2021
This morning, our local guide will board our coach at the Thargomindah Visitor Information
Centre for a town tour with great local stories and insights. Relive moments of yesteryear at
the Old Jail and Old Thargomindah Hospital courtesy of life-size holographics and interactive
experiences. We say goodbye to “Thargo” -- heading east along the Adventure Way we arrive
in Eulo, often described as the ‘Montville of the Outback.’ Relax with a hearty pub lunch in
the famous Eulo Queen Hotel before sampling the town shop. Check out the opals and art at
the Telegraph House Gallery, pick up handcrafted leather goods or purchase some locally
made honey. While in town we will visit the Artesian Mud Springs; built up over centuries
these mud springs were the original release valves for the Great Artesian Basin. Take a selfie
with Kenny the life-size Diprotodon (giant Megafauna) found in the Eulo Area. Back on the
road we travel on to Cunnamulla and the Cunnamulla Fella Visitor Information Centre. Join a
self-guided tour of the Artesian Time Tunnel, meet ‘Doug the Rigger’, view engaging audio-
visual displays and find out how the Great Artesian Basin was formed

                                                Overnight Cunnamulla (Warrego Hotel-Motel)

DAY 9: (B,L,D) CUNNAMULLA > ST GEORGE                                Tuesday 13th July 2021
This morning a fourth generation local from Out The Back Australia will board our coach for a
guided tour of Cunnamulla. See the huge natural sand dunes and learn how they came to be.
Gain an insight into the region’s first inhabitants, early pioneers and quirky
characters. Continuing east along the Balonne Highway we arrive at the turnoff for Charlotte
Plains. This family owned and operated sheep station was established back in the
1860s. Property owner Robyn Russell will board our coach for a guided tour of the station,
home to Merino Sheep and Dohne Rams as well as the more recent Aussie White Sheep. We
will see the historic bore, sunk into the Great Artesian Basin to a depth of 561m, tour their
historic woolshed and enjoy a relaxed lunch on the old homestead verandah. Back on the
coach we travel on to arrive in St George with time to refresh before Dinner

                                              Stay 2 nights in St George (Riverland Motor Inn)

DAY 10: (B,L,D) ST GEORGE                                       Wednesday 14th July 2021

This morning a local guide will hop on our coach for a heritage tour of St George including a
visit to Anchorage Homestead (with morning tea) to discover the history of one of the oldest
homes in the shire – The Anchorage is a heritage-listed homestead built in 1903.We then
meet David (the owner) at Riversands Wines for a tour of the vineyard followed by a personal
wine tasting and three course winery lunch. This afternoon we’ll be joined by a local cotton
farmer on a tour of a fully operational cotton farm to learn how cotton is grown, irrigated and
harvested.

DAY 11: (B,L,) ST GEORGE > BRISBANE > COOLUM                 Thursday 15th July 2021
After an amazing time in Southern Inland Queensland we travel south east along the
Carnarvon Highway. We stop to check out Moonie (first oil wells in Qld) - then travelling
through the rich Darling Downs to Toowoomba. From there we will re-join the Warrego
Highway back to Brisbane and onto the Sunshine Coast with everlasting memories of Outback
communities, magical scenery, the local Characters we have met and, the friends we have
made on the way …………

Tour Highlights
    •   Roma
    •   Guided tour of the Roma Saleyards
    •   Local guide for tour of Roma
    •   Tour Mount Hope Station followed by a camp oven dinner
    •   Charleville
    •   Enjoy lunch and a guided tour of historic Hotel Corones in Charleville
    •   Explore the night skies on the Cosmos Centre Big Sky Twilight Tour
    •   Visit RFDS
    •   Visit Charleville School of Distance Education
    •   Uncover the stories on the Top Secrets WWII Tour with local Guide
    •   Meet the Bilby at the Bilby Experience
    •   Quilpie
    •   Join a guided town tour of Quilpie
    •   Lunch at the Quilpie Heritage Inn
    •   Savour Sunset, Wine & Cheese at Lyn Barns boutique outback gallery
    •   Visit Moble Homestead and enjoy a tour and garden lunch
    •   Eromanga
    •   Join the Australian Dinosaur Giants Tour
    •   Eromanga Natural History Museum
    •   Discover the historic Noccundra Hotel
    •   Thargomindah
    •   Step back in time with a tour of the Thargomindah Old Jail and Old Hospital
    •   Discover the history of the Artesian Hydo Power Plant
    •   Enjoy Sunset Drinks followed by a Slow Cook & Damper Dinner (alfresco)
    •   Eulo
    •   See the Artesian Mud Springs in Eulo
    •   Lunch at the Eulo Queen Hotel
    •   Visit the Telegraph House Gallery for opals, leather crafts, local honey etc
    •   Cunnamulla
    •   Tour Cunnamulla with a fourth generation local
    •   Tour of the Artesian Time Tunnel
    •   Visit Charlotte Plains, a working sheep station- tour & lunch
    •   St George
    •   Visit historic Anchorage Homestead on a St George Heritage Tour
    •   Meet the Makers at Riversands Wine with a 3-course winery lunch
    •   Tour a fully operational cotton farm with a local cotton farmer

Motel Accommodation
Roma --         Roma Explorers Inn --- 2 nights
Charleville --- Charleville Motel --- 2 nights
Quilpie ---     Quilpie Motor Inn --- 1 night
Eromanga ---    Cooper’s Country Lodge & Eromanga Motel – 1 night
Thargomindah - Oasis Motel -- 1 night
Cunnamulla -- Warrego Hotel-Motel - 1 night
St George –     Riverland Motor Inn – 2 nights